oliver



@uiten .t-stra datent @ffice H. W. OLIVER, OF NEW HAVEN, ASSIGNOR TOMASON H. THORPE, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

Letters .Patent No. 65,619, dated July 9, 1867.

IMPROVED SPICE-GRATER.

To ALL WHoM 1T. MAY coNoERN:

Be it known that I, H. W. OLIVER, of New Haven, in the 'county of NewHaven,'and State of Connecticut, have invented anew and improvedSpice-Mill; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved arrangement for keeping andgrinding spices of various kinds; and the invention consists incombining and arranging a number ot' tubes or cylinders in such a mannerthat while the tubes severally contain diierent kinds of spices, eitherone of the spices may be ground separately from the rest, and by thesame means or by the same grinding-disk by which all the rest areground; and also in the device for feeding the spice into the mill, andalso in combining with the mill a case or receptacle, which is itselflan indispensable article of the household.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the mill withinits case, through the line :l: of fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the mill' and case combined, through theliuc y y.

i Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the mill, showing an outsideview of the mill or grinding end.

,Figure 4 is a view of the revolvingplate which 4covers the grinding endof the cluster of tubes, showingv the aperture through which theunground spice is vforced by the spiral spring.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. l

The tubes marked a, tig. 2, (more or less in number,) are continedtogether, as seen in the cross-section. The length of the tubes isindicated by the longitudinal section,.iig. 1, where the mill isrepresented in its case. b represents plugs or short cylindrical pieces,(one in each tube,) which have thumb-pieces c with small projectinglipsl d, as seen in the drawing. e is a pin which is attached to thecentre of the cluster of tubes, with a head, f. To each of the pins bthere is a spiral spring attached, which springs have pistons or platesattached to their opposite ends, as seen at g, g. 1. h represents thesprings. J is a screw which acts as a pivot or centre for the plate z',tig. 4, to revolve upon. '.lhis' plate has a broad flangeV aroundit, asseen in iig. 3, and one orifice, m, which is of the diameter of thetubes, with as many holes through the flange as there are tubes. c is aspring having a pin in its end, which enters the holes in the ange as`the plate is revolved, andthe holes are so arranged that when thespring holds the plate by the pinl the hole m through the plate willcorrespond with one of the tubes, and that tube is indicated by theindex-finger n 'which is attached to the iange of the plate. To turn orrevolve the plate, the spring is pressed down, when the pin on its endleaves the hole in the flange and allows it to turn. The grinding isdone by another disk-plate o which is revolved by the crank I). Thisgrinding-plate may be formed in any suitable manner, so that it is madeto perform the required service. In this example of my invention theplate is perforated in the manner of a grater, while the spice (which isrepresented by the red color) is pressed against it by the spiralspring. Steel cutters or points may be attached to the grinding-plate ifdesired; The grinding-plate is supported by the central screw Jion whichit revolves. On the inner side of this grinding-plate there are littleledges, seen at l lll, iig. 3, which are for the purpose of keeping thetwo plates a suiflcient distance apart to allow the ground spice to bedischarged from between them, and also to prevent contact between theplates.

To operate the mill, the piece 6 (at the opposite end) is turned so thatthe projection d leaves the head of the pinf, when the spring iswithdrawn from the tube and the spice is introduced. rlfhe spring, withthe piece 6, is then replaced and thegrinding-plate isrevolved, theindexnger pointing to the tube containing; the spice to be ground.Thc'case or receptacle for the Inill S is made in the form of arolling-pin, and it is designed to be used for that purpose. It isformed of a metallic cylinder, with Wooden heads and handles, one ofwhich heads is removable, as seen at S in the drawings.

The mill can be securely kept in the rolling-pin case, and consequentlyit will always be found when it is wanted for use;

The different spices may be kept in the separate tubes of the mill,secure from dust, and where they will always be at handjvhen wanted.

p Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

` The tubes a, (more or less in number,) arrangell and combinedsubstantially as shown and described for the purposes specified.

In combination 'with the tubes a I claim the method herein shown anddeserihedfor feeding the spice tothe grindingplate. l

I claim the langefl plate Az', the spring 7c, and the index n, for thepurposes set forth. I claim 'the grinding-plate o in combination withthe tubes a. I claim the case S in combination with the spice-mill,constructed substantially as described for the purpose set forth. i H.W. OLIVER.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMAnA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

